Open Post | Tuesday, May 26th (UPDATE 2:28 pm)
Posted on: May 26, 2015
Image via Andre Harris (No. 77) via Yahoo
– Andre Harris: The 2016 & 2017 OK Preps classes are loaded with talented offensive linemen and one of those leading the charge is Putnam City North’s 2017 OT, Andre Harris. We caught up with Harris this past weekend and discussed his summer and how his spring practices went. And it turns out OU’s Bill Bedenbaugh stopped by last week to take in a practice and saw enough to extend an invitation to Harris for one of the Sooners’ summer camps. to watch him last week.
Harris has also been hearing from Tulsa, Kansas State & Iowa State. Harris’ skills from the basketball court are evident when you watch his footwork on the football field and still just a sophomore, that upper-body strength will continue to develop as he matures. He may be somewhat raw at the moment, but you can definitely see the potential. Should certainly be a name to watch over these next couple of years. – (Brandon)
– Levi Draper: The 2017 Collinsville linebacker continues to add to his growing list of offers on a near weekly basis. Most recently, however, Draper received an offer from OU’s Bedlam rival, Oklahoma State. Draper tells TFB he will be taking an unofficial visit to Stillwater next week and has plans to spend some time with Mike Gundy during the visit.
With the Ok State offer now in hand, the 2017 OK Preps LB now counts eight official scholarship offers with more sure to come. Draper says at the moment, Clemson is a school that continues to standout for him. Draper tells TFB that he and Brent Venables talk on a weekly basis. And Draper has plans to visit Clemson not once, but twice — on an unofficial visit and for a camp — this summer.
Stanford is another school Draper has built a relationship with and plans to visit as well. – (Brandon)
– Brey Walker: The 2018 (yes, 2018) OK Preps offensive lineman is quickly starting to make a name for himself not just locally, but nationally as well. Most recently in picking up an offer from Michigan We spoke to Brey’s father shortly after he was offered from Michigan last week.
We recently spoke with Walker’s father, who told us that Alabama is also showing interest already and that his son is planning to camp with the Crimson Tide this summer. An offer at that time certainly isn’t out of the question and, frankly, it will undoubtedly be just one of many, many more to come.
There is still a long way to go, but Walker could very well prove to be the most heralded recruit out of the state of Oklahoma since Gerald McCoy. It should be fun to keep up with his recruitment over the next couple of years. – (Brandon)
– Tope Imade: You may have already seen in today’s news/links post, but the 2016 offensive lineman and OU target has committed to Texas. – (TFB)
– UPDATE (2:28 pm): OU has missed out on two potential grad transfers today – former Michigan CB Blake Countess & former Notre Dame offensive lineman Matt Hegarty.
https://twitter.com/TheeCount2/status/603185770942304256
Congrats @MHegs77! Welcome to the Oregon Family. #MenOfOregon #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/zvnmtywY8D
— OregonGridiron (@OregonGridiron) May 26, 2015
184 Comments
FIRST! BOOM!
Wow these kids are getting younger and younger. Talent is talent though and if they are talented enough to get offers now then they should be better by the time they get to campus!
Double edged sword. Kids mature at different stages. He may have peaked (not saying in any way that it is the truth or that I’m hoping for it) and as he get’s older the rest of the class catches up. Just sayin…
Draper and Walker….Two Oklahoma kids that we’ll sit around and slow play while they develope strong relationships with other coaches/schools. I know we have picked up the pace lately on offering scholly’s, but dangit, when we have good ones in our backyard go get them!! smh
I mean when you have an ex assistant coming back to take talent out of your back yard…….
Walker has an offer.
Walker got an OU offer several months ago.
There are better players around the country. OU is a national program. Right?
Seventh! POP?
I may be wrong but neither Clemson or Stanford have offered Draper either have they?
According to 247 you are correct.
It’s hard to be optimistic with the pace of recruiting when you continuously see kids show up on OPs and commit elsewhere.
Insert Steven Dale post here….
Post of the day.
Lol. I needed to get my monthly dose of gloom. The off season sucks and recruiting has flat lined
If Mike doesn’t offer Draper….I’m going to come un-glued! How can we slow play this kid?! More stupidity from the Stoops bros…winter is coming gentlemen!!!
Draper may turn out to be great for all I know. But he’s being slow played by Clemson and Stanford as well. Perhaps these coaches who evaluate talent for a living know more than posters on TFB.
Say it isn’t so!
This is the Internet. We have no room for reason and logic here.
rabble rabble rabble
Clemson is slow playing Draper strategically. Venables knows that if he offers Draper so will a bunch of other schools including OU. In which case he likely loses him. If Draper makes the trip to Clemson he said he will offer because at that point he knows Draper isn’t just using Clemson as a stepping stone and he will feel he has a better shot at Draper once he’s seen the campus. In a nutshell that’s what Venables told him.
Interesting stuff. How the game is played.
Can’t say I’m too fired up about offering a bunch of SOPH’s and FROSH like we and others are doing. If you think attrition is high now, just wait. It’s hard enough to evaluate how a SR will translate into the college game, let alone how a FR or SOPH will. I suppose the good news is that we all know how little a JR’s commitment means as very few of them ever hold true. Just imagine how meaningless a FR or SOPH’s commitment will be. Don’t know why a school would even bother accepting it, but whatever floats their boat.
If you listen to guys to talk about recruiting who offers when and who had a the longest relationship with them is what is winning right now. So you almost have to offer early to get in the door. The reality is as they progress and they don’t develop you don’t have to honor your offer. It can be pulled. So I say offer away just have the guts to back off if needed.
I think reneging offers sets a terrible example for future recruits and, more importantly, their hs coaches, who oftentimes play a huge role in their recruitment. Stoops and Co. need to build relationships, not tear them apart, which is why I’m totally against this style of recruiting.
Exactly. Offering amounts to a promise. Coach would be breaking a promise of sorts. However, there ought to be a two-way street. If a kid commits early, he/she ought to be bound and thus eliminate NSD, except for those who do not commit until NSD.
Did you really read your post before you sent it? Let’s say you have a son who commits to OU as a sophomore and then when he’s a jr, the OU staff gets fired. No one is ever bound.
In this example, if he wasn’t offered until after his junior year, then this is a non-issue.
True. Until they put a lid on recruiting, it’s not going to stop.
You know I’m speaking hypothetically don’t you? In my schema, it saves all those times a kid flips and changes his/her mind leading up to NSD. Why commit unless you are really committed? Committed doesn’t mean for two months does it? I want to change the way recruiting works that’s all.
Couldn’t agree more. Great minds think alike!
I don’t necessarily disagree with you guys about freshman and sophomores. Watch the kids. Stay in touch. But offers not necessary.
Technically, our next recruiting class are all juniors now, so I’m not seeing your point there.
But there are exceptions to every rule. The 2018 OL from Southmoore is a beast. Great size and strength already. Great, great feet. I wouldn’t make it a practice. Or get in the habit of spending too much time on Soph/Fresh, but the kid is in our backyard. We’re up there evaluating upperclassmen, so I don’t see the big issue in offering him, based on the film I saw.
BoomerDave, it is a little odd to offer freshman but then again nothing stays the same including recruiting. If this will improve OU, I’m in. We want championships and if we have to shake up recruiting, embrace it.
I think many people, including myself, are taking issue with whether or not this style will actually improve anything.
Absolutely agreed. With all of the recruiting rules, would like to see the ncaa add one more very simple one…no offers before their JR year and no contact before their SO year.
And what about all the other “good” college programs that haven’t offered him yet?
I’ll never understand bashing OU for not offering a kid that has exactly ZERO offers from schools on OU’s level.
What about the Terry kid from Tulsa? We were the first to offer. No other P5 offers. Zero stars. Last I looked he now has 5 or more P5 offers, and is a three star. He’ll likely be a four star once people really start looking at him.
That’s what I’m talking about. Don’t ignore the potential in OK HS kids. Do your due diligence. Maybe they’re raw, but look for what they can become with your coaching. Maybe they redshirt and don’t contribute until RS Soph year.
It seems to me to be the most productive use of your limited recruiting time to look nearby first, then branch out as time permits.
And had we offered McKinley Whitfield last year like everyone on this board wanted us to do, we would have been his only P5 offer (other than Louisville, I believe, who is obviously not of the same caliber as OU). Recruiting is an interesting thing. I understand where you’re coming from, but I don’t think we should necessarily be quick to criticize until our coaches continually fail to miss out on in-state talent, which I don’t think has been the case other than a few understandable misses here and there i.e. Wes Welker.
That’s my point cpearc00, I think they are continually missing out on in-state talent. I just don’t believe it’s one every three years like you and BD seem to think.
I don’t know how to prove it. But what I do know is that EVERY OU NC roster was made up of 50%+ Oklahoma kids.
And I think more effort in mining the Oklahoma HS’s could be the missing ingredient to getting us back on track.
My only argument to this is show me all of the kids from OK that OU failed to offer over the past 10-12 years that went on to become great players at other D-1 programs. I’ll spot you Welker (that EVERYONE missed on). Then there was Colby Whitlock, Davian Pierson, Tyler Lockett, Felix Jones. There may have been a few others that I’m not recalling at this time. But this is easy to rebut. They either became outstanding players or they didn’t. The proof is in their body of work. Until you can name me 6-8 kids per year as you claim, then I’m going to continue to believe that we are not missing on as many as you suggest,
BTW, it is very time consuming to research, but here is what I found from the 2009 and 2010 classes. It is in no way a comprehensive list. All these kids were starters, award winners (e.g. all B12), etc. at their respective schools, and could have be at least key contributors on the field for OU. None of these kids got an OU offer. This is just a two year period.
Justin Blackmon, Kye Staley, Levy Adcock, Tracy Moore, Jeremy Smith, Beau Blankenship, Jacques Washington, Keenan Taylor, Tramaine Thompson, Zach Trujillo.
I’m sure you’ll crap all over this, but the bottom line is that these kids could have done well at OU. IMO, their local investment in the program would have made their teams better, if at OU. Yet they were passed over, if not ignored by OU.
I’m certain you could find comparable numbers in nearly every class, but it’s just too time consuming to do.
Who are most of these guys? Lol! You’re argument was that OU didn’t offer guys who would have contributed to OU, meaning they would have been better than the players we actually had. The only player on that list that meets that criteria would be Justin Blackmon, and it’s doubtful OU would have kept him around like Gundy did after failing drug test after drug test.
I knew you would crap all over this, for some reason. I’ve been saying we’re passing over 2, 3, 4 Oklahoma kids per year that could contribute.
These guys were starters on their respective teams, received All Conference honors, reside high in their respective institutions record books, were fringe NFL players, etc.
So you’re crapping on these guys because, why? Because you’re not familiar with them?
I’m saying if they started, set records, received honors, they could at least be solid contributors at OU and deserved consideration equal to, or before some out of state kid with a comparable resume.
So what are your standards for Oklahoma kids being deserving of offers?
Justin Blackmon, all American WR @ OSU; Kye Staley, starting WR at OSU for 3 years, 3 time all conference; Levy Adcock, 2 yr OL starter for OSU, All conf; Tracy Moore starting WR for OSU, 8th all time in OSU receptions and receiving yards; Jeremy Smith, was in RB rotation w/ J Randle and Desmond Roland, 6th all time rusher in OSU history; Beau Blankenship, holds all Ohio U rushing stats, and return stats, received AA honors his sr. yr; Jacque Washington, 2 year starter at DB for ISU, rec all conf honors, fringe pro player; Keenan Taylor, 2 yr OL starter for KSU; Tramaine Thompson, 2 yr WR starter for ISU, all conf KR honors; Zach Trujillo, 2 yr. starter at TE for KSU;
My point was never that all of these players would start for OU, though a couple might have. But rather all were capable of contributing.
And historically, all of Stoops best teams had >30% Oklahomans, and all of OU’s NC teams had ~50% (or more) Oklahomans. It’s an intangible that’s hard to quantify, but also hard to ignore. I think it has to do with the personal investment in OU by the Oklahoma kids, and exemplary leadership arising from that.
And as such, IMO, greater effort should be made to unearth Oklahoma kids that will contribute, and all things being equal, in the evaluations, more efforts put into the Oklahoma kids.
That is all I’ve ever tried to say. And then a couple or three people jumped all over my posts, belittle my knowledge of football, belittle my character, my intelligence, etc. and here we are.
I don’t think I know more than the coaches per se, but rather that they may be missing something. Nothing wrong with saying that.
I don’t think I know more than you or boomer, but I do find it pretty offensive when you crap all over my thoughts, without even giving them a modicum of consideration.
I put out there that all OU NC’s had 50% Oklahomans. You could have said wow, interesting, I wonder why, maybe that’s worth looking into. But rather than that, I got what the he11 has that to do with recruiting Oklahoma kids today, or even doubting the veracity of that information.
I don’t back down very easily. But I try and keep an open mind. You don’t, or haven’t it seems in this instance. All I ask is that you, boomer and others keep an open mind and not crap all over everything I say without considering it.
OMG!!! I stopped reading at Kye Staley. He was a 5’10” fullback at OSU who had, now get this, 36 career rushing yards in 6 seasons. Lol! And you have him listed as a 3-time All-Conference WR. Enough for your research! You f’ing crack me up! Case closed! You are officially a moron!!!
You are right about the position. Typo, pulled from the wrong line of my notes. But look at his bio, 3 time all conference honors.
But clearly you will take each and every opportunity to discredit me. The heck with everything else.
Dude, if your research says that he was 3 times an All-Conference player, your research is flawed and not any of it can be believed. The kid was a great guy, by all accounts, but he never saw the field due to injuries. How can you be a 3-time all conference RB, with 10 career carries spread out over 6 seasons? That’s less than 2 carries per season. Still stand by this research?
Are you looking at his HS bio? Lol.
Facts are facts, you can’t make All Conference if you don’t play. And Kye Staley hardly ever played.
It’s on his bio on the Okie St website. Look it up. Have you a better source? I remember the guy making plays, catching the ball, on us.
If the conference coaches awarded him honors, I’ve got to think he’s a pretty decent player. Runnels didn’t have much in the way of stats. He carried 2 times for 5 yards in his career, but was all conference a couple of times. And he was clearly a contributor and leader for his OU teams.
Yeah, I read his bio and I don’t care what it says. That’s a joke because he kid didn’t play. I also read where 2013 was his most impactful year where he started 3 games. No other starts in his career. I’m telling you, the kid didn’t play 50 plays in his entire 6 years there. But you think he would have made a big impact at OU, because that’s what we are talking about? Also, don’t want to burst your bubble on this kid, but OU offered him.
Against OU, he had one carry for 0 yards. Against Texas he had one carry. And Baylor was the only other game that he got a carry. If he made 2nd team All Conference like OSU says, then it was because there were only 2 FB’s in the league eligible.
Ok, I messed up in picking up Staley. Why would that negate all the rest? And / or why would that negate the rest of my postulation?
I made a mistake. I tried to throw together some research quickly, late last night, after the family went down for the night. Shoot me.
How you prove it is you find OK kids that OU didn’t offer, that are a) contributing at OU caliber schools, or b) at least excelling at a very high level at lesser schools. If you can’t find kids that match that criteria, then your point is moot.
So your argument is valid, just because you said it. But I have to spend days upon days to “prove” mine?
It shouldn’t be that difficult if we’re missing on multiple kids per year.
SoonerfanTU, he can’t do it. I’ve been asking him for at least one name since last week, but nothing but crickets. I spotted him Pierson, Welker, Lockett, Felix Jones, and Whitlock. His argument is obliterated as far as I’m concerned. Fact is, there are just a handful of guys who OU overlooked that proved to be better Han what we signed. Oklahoma kids have played D-1 football. Iowa St has had quite a few. But we’re they better than what he had playing. In my estimation, no.
So absent days of research, my argument is moot. Yet you only need state yours fir it to be valid?
Your argument is heard. My rebuttal is that Draper has Ostate, Washington, Illinois, Vandy and Louisville offers. That’s a good list for kid that hasn’t played a down his Jr year. He has 8 total. I am not questioning OU staff. That’s other readers. My point, is that you’re down playing a kid that is most likely going to have close to 15 offers by Summers end. Two of those, most likely, from Stanford and Clemson. That’s where I don’t get your point. Draper is on another level for 2017.
I appreciate your response Brandon, but I think you’ve misunderstood my arguments. My comments were never directed to Draper in particular so I am certainly not downplaying his abilities. I was simply taking issue with those claiming we should offer Oklahoma kids simply because they are close by and show promise. I just don’t think it’s fair to criticize our staff until it is shown that they have repeatedly missed out on in state talent.
Prove we haven’t missed out on instate talent.
My proof: Every OU NC roster had 50% or greater Oklahomans.
Both Bob’s Heisman winners were underrated Oklahoma kids. Kid’s like Seth Littrell and JD Runnels and Rocky Calmus and Teddy Lehman were all underrated Oklahoma kids, that were the heart and soul of their teams.
That is what recent squads have missed, IMO. No heart. No soul.
complete logical fallacy. just because oh you had 50 percent or greater Oklahoma representation on its national championship rosters does not mean thatthe talent is similar today. your argument completely miss characterizes the issue. not to mention it fails to recognize that Oklahoma is much more able to recruit kids nationwide that was back in the seventies and eighties.
I apologize for all of the grammatical errors as I’m using voice text on my phone.
Again, name some names of all of these players over the past 16 years of Bob’s tenure that we didn’t offer that went on to excel at other places. Your argument is very easy to prove because in most instances their college careers are over and the proof is in their body of work. You claimed that OU should be signing at least 8 out of each class and we have only signed 3-5 each year. That’s around 50-75 players that you claimed we missed out on. Give us names please.
Again you are a liar. I said 6-8, not at least 8.
You suggest I must prove with lists of names or my argument should be rendered invalid, yet you need only state yours for it to be valid. To research as you suggest would take days. But your argument need not require such.
You spin, spin, spin.
I only suggest that a greater focus on in-state talent would enhance the heart and leadership of the team which has sorely been lacking.
You’re the one calling into question the eye for talent of our coaches or that they don’t respect sooner state football. Why would someone defending that need proof? The only proof you’d need is to point out that Bob is top 20 at least of all time. But I guess Bob should just can everything he’s ever done and scour the internet for recruiting tips
OMG, are you the legal counsel for the OU coaching staff? Wow, I didn’t know.
This is not a trial environment. So your argument doesn’t hold water.
This is a fan site, message board, where the proprietors and fans can share information and opinions, as long as they do so in a respectful manner.
There is no requirement that I do days of research to support my opinion. And if I don’t, it is not rendered any less valid than your unsupported opinions.
The vitriolic attacks of you and your crew on anything I post makes me wonder why? Why shouldn’t my opinion be allowed to sit out there without your incessant bashing of it? What drives your curious need to put down anything I say? Seems I’ve touched a sensitive spot?
Interesting?
You don’t want to prove your statement. That makes your opinion worthless. Which is pretty much what everybody’s trying to say. “Here’s what I think, I don’t have to prove it.” sounds like a teenager who thinks he’s got it all figured out
So I’m foolish, because I didn’t want to spend a ton of time getting a list. But you’ve provided nothing to back your claims, and you’re not foolish?
Two sets of rules? You don’t have to support any arguments you make, but anyone disagreeing with you does? And if they don’t, you belittle them?
BTW, Brandon, the Brainiac, echoed what I’ve been saying, above.
My opinion is worthless because I don’t want to spend countless hours, to “prove” my opinion.
Haven’t seen you prove yours, or prove mine wrong.
They are opinions. We’re both entitled to one. And just because you disagree with mine, doesn’t mean I have to “prove” it. And that in no way invalidates my opinion.
Who is belittling and name calling? Who’s the teenager?
P.S. I spent two hours doing a half-a$$ compilation for two recruiting classes. To do a thorough one would have taken at least twice as long, but would have produced more names. Results below. I’m sure you will come back and say it’s crap, for some inane reason.
Yep. You are entirely right. You should get to run your mouth and throw out wild claims without proof. And we all get to call you clueless. The way the world works, hoss
I made what wild claims “Hoss”?
I simply stated my opinion that we’re passing over 2-4 Oklahoma kids per year that could contribute to OU, in favor of comparable out-of-state kids. I stated my opinion that if we asserted more effort locally we could keep these comparable kids at home.
What wild claims did I make, “Hoss”?
And why are you so hostile, “Hoss”?
And did you even look at my “research “?
Or is it just that if someone’s opinion is different than yours, it’s worthless?
How do you know? You speak in absolutes, like it’s a guarantee that just cause a kid is from Oklahoma that he goes to OU and kicks tail. You’ve been asked for examples and we’re even given a few to get the ball rolling. Instead you just keep beating your gums. All this time you’ve spent arguing could have been more productive doing research for your claims
I did twice, “Hoss”. But your SOP is bash, belittle and berate, before actually considering other’s thoughts/posts.
When someone speaks in absolutes that’s what needs to happen. Wasn’t my intent to make you feel like less of a man, but oh well. Adios pal
I know not what absolutes you speak of. I expressed an opinion that OU needs to recruit 2 or 3 more instate kids each year. IMO, there are instates they are passing up, that have as much talent as some they are signing. And all things being equal, IMO go with the local kids, There are intangibles there that help make strong teams.
But for reasons I don’t comprehend, you won’t consider that, and deem everything I say as without merit.
Have you looked at the list I came up with from ’08/’09? If we’re putting 4 a year on roster, I think we can up it to six, with beneficial results to the team.
This would have been an awesome post for your 1st one. Something that sounds thought out and logical. Your others have seemed crazy and were calling coaches out for something that is just opinion and not fact. This post is very good and allows itself to be interpreted as opinion and not fact
Thanks for reading and considering. That’s all I was hoping for. That’s the only reason I ever post. Just looking for thoughtful consideration.
I actually was someone who thought Oklahoma HS’s didn’t produce more than a couple of OU level recruits per year.
Then another poster put out some ideas regarding the level of OU kids on the squads affecting the leadership, and commitment levels of the teams, citing the makeup of the NC teams. I did a tiny bit of research on the OK % of the best Stoops teams, and started wondering. Not sure why, but there seems to be a correlation between the level of OK kids on the roster and the overall success of the teams.
Sorry if I lead us down a rathole, with ineffectively making my point until now. Thanks for listening.
Indeed. And I didn’t help. Seems some of our best leaders were from home. Good mix of locals who can/will lead and a good mix of others who don’t mind letting em and I can get behind that. Good talking to you too brother
Lol! You keep using this “I don’t want to research it” line, when you should be able to at least rattle off a few off the top of your head. But you haven’t even named one! That should be a simple task for you since you stated above that you can evaluate talent as well as the ex-college coaches and ex-NFL personnel people who watch film and do the rankings for Rivals, Scout and the 247/Network. Why don’t you just give up and admit that there aren’t as many “misses” in Oklahoma as you claim? You’re looking pretty foolish by not even attempting to back up your claims.
Brandon, the Brainiac, echoed what I’ve been saying, above.
So I’m foolish, because I didn’t want to spend a ton of time getting a list. But you’ve provided nothing to back your claims, and you’re not foolish?
Two sets of rules? You don’t have to support any arguments you make, but anyone disagreeing with you does? And if they don’t, you belittle them?
I have not belittled you in anyway whatsoever. I have taken your insults and kept my cool throughout your stupid arguments and accusations. I’ve come to the conclusion that you are just a complete moron and I’m done arguing with you. Go troll someone else. I’m done!
Let’s see. You’ve called me foolish, a moron and a troll.
But you never belittled me in any way whatsoever!?!?!
I did what you asked. I put out a list of unoffered Oklahoma kids, whose performance elsewhere suggest that they could/would have contributed at OU. You crapped all over it, without even really looking at it.
And what insults have I made against you? I called you a liar once, when you totally skewed and misstated what I had said so that you could feed the fire for boomersooner. And for that, I apologize. My anger went too far there.
But you called me names and made character assasinations on and against me both times this topic has come up.
Pot meet kettle.
I only called you names after I had written you off for what you really are. Before that, not once. You have misstated everything I’ve said to try to bolster your position. I don’t think anyone on here has another word to say to you on this subject or any other. You are worse that Stephen Dale, IMO.
P.S. I spent two hours doing a half-a$$ compilation for two recruiting classes. To do a thorough one would have taken at least twice as long, but would have produced more names. Results below. I’m sure you will come back and say it’s crap, for some inane reason.
It’s easier for you to just prove who we DID miss out on.
I could not agree more. We are lacking real state pride and real University pride. I like that we can get kids from Cali and Florida but I want more Oklahoma kids.
Fair point. I agree. I also know that years that OU is really successful their main players, or at least a good portion of their main players, are Oklahoma kids. That doesnt mean the roster only has 30 Oklahomans. I’m saying of those 30, 10 of them are contributing to OU success.
Amen Mr. Drumm! I don’t know why, entirely, but the higher the % of the team that is from Oklahoma, the better the team. All 7 NC teams had ~50% or more Oklahomans, and Stoops other NC game participants had >30%. I can only guess that it’s the level of leadership, due to higher personal investment of the Oklahoma kids.
And as for you sir, hopefully our prayers have helped in some small way for you and yours.
You really think the OU coaches are ignoring the potential talent in OK? Because they don’t offer 1-2 kids that you think they should offer? Sorry, but I just don’t see the logic there.
Rare are the situations that OU doesn’t offer an in state kid, and gets burned down the road. Even rarer are the situations where OU doesn’t offer an in state kid, and we don’t land a class full of kids that on paper, are nearly unanimously better players than the in-state kid not offered.
Looking around, best I can tell, most of these diamond in the rough type players that this board likes to get behind and pimp as the next from nothing to star player, aren’t really panning out.
EVERY OU NC team had 50% or greater Oklahoma kids.
I know you’re omniscient, but explain that.
I don’t know that that is a 100% factual statement, BUT if it is, I’d argue that it’s likely misleading since most (what, all but one?) of OU’s NC’s were won before scholarship limitations, which allowed OU let every Tom, Dick, and Harry from OK be on the roster, even if they weren’t contributing.
For the record, I’m not against recruiting Oklahoma talent. But you can’t argue both ways. You can’t say that OU needs to recruit the state of Oklahoma better and more, then turn around when OU gets pounced by a team with better talent, and say that OU needs to recruit better talent. Most of the time, you won’t find OU taking kids that are less talented in the eyes of the recruiting world, than non-offered kids that played in Oklahoma. That just isn’t happening.
Link for 2000 roster: http://soonerstats.com/football/players/roster.cfm#.VWT5SNjwuUk
Starters/key contributors from Oklahoma: Bubba Burcham (captain), Corey Callens, Rocky Calmus (captain), Jamal Brown, Dan Cody, Cory Heinecke, Scott Kempenich, Kory Klein, Seth Littrell, Teddy Lehman, Trevor Nutt, Antonio Perkins, Ramon Richardson, Frank Romero, Trent Smith, Roger Steffan, JT Thatcher.
That is just quickly going through the roster. There are more.
And every NC roster is like this.
2008 OU team that set all kinds of records and played for a NC wasn’t 50% OK kids, and you can’t honestly tell me that is the reason we lost that game.
2008 was 30%+. And that’s all I’m suggesting. 6-8 kids a year. Greater investment in OU than Cali kids, Fla kids, etc.
By greater investment, I mean OK kids are more invested in the program than kids from Cali/Fla
There aren’t 6-8 kids a year from OK that are worthy of an OU scholarship. Sorry, you’ll just never convince me that that is the truth. Seems borderline crazy to me, even.
Some years there might be. Most, not even close. 8 a year, if they all stayed, would still only put you at 37% of scholarship kids being from OK. And I bet most years, OU is definitely 30%+. Might dip below some years, and some years might be in the mid to high 40’s.
Well you would lose that bet. it’s been 10-15% for the last five or six years.
And as for deserving OK kids, we’ll have to agree to disagree then. Because I do STRONGLY believe that there are 6-8 kids per year. Based on that average, you would be at around 35% of the roster.
Scholarship kids, per class, from OK in recently signed classes:
2015 – 4
2014 – 4
2013 – 5
2012 – 3
2011 – 3 (And one of those was the Bradley kid we knew wasn’t coming.)
So if nobody redshirted, and everybody stayed, OU should have 16 OK kids on scholarship this upcoming season. That would be 19% of the scholarship roster.
MGB, I’ve asked you 5-6 times. Please name all of these players that OU hasn’t offered that proved themselves at other schools. That is a very simple thing for you to do, otherwise your whole premise that we should be signing at least 8 players every year falls completely apart. We currently sign between 3-5, a far cry from 6-8 that you say are good enough. Over a 10 year period, that at least 30-50 guys that you say we missed on. It’s easy to say you STRONGLY BELIEVE something is true. Here is your chance to prove your argument. I don’t even expect 50, but at least give me 30 names. Lol!
The 2004 team had 30 out of 104 players from OK. Did that team really need to sub out 22 non-OK kids for 22 OK kids in order to beat USC?
No. No they didn’t.
I never said that.
All I’ve ever said was to have 25 or so. I believe OK kids are more invested in the program, and have historically been the heart and soul of our better teams..
I never said every OU team with 25 kids from OK would win a NC. But historically, the teams with a significant OK presence have had more heart and more fight and been better teams.
OU currently has 32. So what is the problem?
I don’t understand your point. You thru out the 50% number, then said 25 or so kids, which OU is currently 7 over, and you can’t name OK kids that OU is not offering that we should be (based on college results).
Based on the roster I just found, I’m not sure the ’85 team was 50% or greater OK kids either. Depends on if you are just talking scholarship kids, or if walk ons count.
’85 was. And I’m talking % of total roster. OU has never had a ton of walk-ons, so go away with that argument that I’m inflating things with walk-ons.
http://www.type40.com/OU/ou_Roster.asp?RYR=1985&Ord=HOME&rsrch=&JNO=0
Do the math yourself. I don’t think that roster is 50% OK kids, but I only counted once. And, to be fair, I don’t know if it’s an accurate roster.
I did the math, and it’s 50% or darn close;
http://soonerstats.com/football/players/roster.cfm#.VWT9PNjwuUk
My point is that when the % of Oklahomans dips to 10 – 15% as it has been recently, you lose a lot of the heart and soul of the team that made up championship rosters.
All I’m suggesting is 30-35%, 6-8 kids a year. I strongly believe it would make a difference.
Then you can’t count.
50/102 is not > 50%
Correct me if I’m wrong on the Terry kid, but he wasn’t offered by OU before his junior year of football even began, was he?
No, he was offered on one of the junior days this year. And committed when he returned home Sunday night.
So now if we express opinions that OU should offer a kid, we’re bashing the coaches? I don’t see anything remotely bashing in what Super K posted.
The “bashing” comment wasn’t really directed at Super K, but he isn’t the only ones all over the OU coaches for not offering kids that they, casual fans of the game, think should get OU offers. I hate that. The OU coaches have a reason they haven’t offered the kid yet. Right or wrong, they get paid to make that decision, and over the last 15 years or so, they’ve achieved results that only 3-4 other schools can top. So yeah, I give the OU coaches the benefit of the doubt. Especially over fans’ opinions, and yes, even over the opinions of someone like Super K.
How about you let the recruitment of the kid play out a little bit longer before second guessing the OU coaches?
How about it’s OK for us to express opinions, so long as there are no personal attacks.
The coaches are big boys and paid handsomely. They are public figures. Nothing wrong with expressing critical opinions about their performance.
Expressing such opinions in a respectful manner is not bashing.
I respect the crap out of Bob and most of the staff. But they are not perfect. They have and do make mistakes. Suggesting such is not bashing.
While I completely agree with you K…. It’s like Venables & Clemson IN THIS CASE are taking advantage of a family completely willing & able to bring a kid half way across the U.S. Which, don’t get me wrong, I don’t have a problem with. But when people ask why schools miss out on some talented kids,or make a 2-3 star a first round pick….this is sometimes the reason. Kids are under the radar or can’t afford what it might take to get the exposure…. Just my 2 cents. Fwiw. Token female chiming in.
I see your point, but Venables knows more than most how the in-state schools work in recruiting. His point was valid. Draper is a massive fan of Venables. Poster need to remember that. He isn’t set on staying in state. He may visit Bama this weekend. Plans are still being worked out by his family.
You know who I am Brandon 🙂 I don’t disagree with Venables or you.
I am just saying that’s how some schools end up with some diamonds, they aren’t able to unofficials camps etc outside of maybe a 150 miles…
Is there any truth to OU coaches being at Draper’s spring practice today or am I getting some bad info?
They were there. There’s definite interest in him..
I read your comments before. The “token female” knows her stuff. Keep it coming.
Guys discussing this with BoomerDave is a waste of your time.
BD KNOWS that if OU hasn’t offered, it’s because the kids aren’t “OU quality”. OU offers EVERY Oklahoma HS kid that can start or contribute at a D1 level.
So they should be offered if they can contribute at Tulsa?
OK, so there is another one who thinks OU never misses any evaluations.
Please tell me where I said that. My question was at least related to your (weak) attempt at a witty sarcastic comment.
Don’t argue with him. He’ll carry it on for days.
Which is a reason they have some new coaches in place. The new coaches don’t seem to hesitate when he sees what they want. I’m all for giving them an opportunity.
My earlier post on all the Okie boys was to say it will be fun to watch their progress/success and how it plays out. Best of luck to all of them and the others I didn’t mention.
Seems like it’s “when in doubt, whine about it”. People on here complain about beating middle tennessee st out for recruits and then complain when we don’t offer someone only offered by middle tennessee st. Some dude who comments on brainiac posts has to know more football than all the big time college football coaches, right? The world went from “you can’t please all the people all the time” to “you can’t please anyone ever”
So you think OUr coaches have done a perfect job of evaluation? So you think you know more than Super K or Brandon?
I’ve just said I strongly believe that OUr coaches underappreciate OK kids. We’ve averaged about 3 OK kids per year in Stoops tenure, for about 15% of our roster. I think that there are 3-5 more per year deserving Oklahoma HS kids that OUr coaches underappreciate.
Further, I think more OK HS kids helps with our work ethic and commitment issues that I perceive on the roster today. Local kids are more invested.
But BoomerDave, and I guess boomersooner and cpearc00 all think I don’t know my head from my butt. I don’t know squat about player evaluation, nor do Super K nor Brandon, per them.
So ridicule me all you want… I agree with Boom above, and believe there is an untapped supply of important talent here.
We’ve offered 3, by my reckoning. Chandler of NEO, Brundage of Edmond, and the Terry kid from Tulsa. I know BD and crew believe my opinions are worthless, but I strongly believe that there are at least five more Oklahoma kids deserving of offers, and possibly as many as eight, in this year’s class.
All great thoughts. I come here to read about football. I don’t come here to have people’s efforts bashed. Our coaches get paid handsomely to do a pretty good job. I’m not your bartender. I don’t get paid to medicate your troubles. If you think they should give something a try tell them
So exactly who did I bash? IMO, your responses to me were/are more bashing than anything I posted.
lol
So you think you/Super K/Brandon know more than the OU coaches? See how that works?
I’m confused on this one. I definitely don’t know more than OU coaches. Not even close
He’s not trying to aim it at you guys. Just some posters who wanna badmouth somebody or somebodies because their actions don’t line up with that posters thought process
That’s not even close to what I said and you know it. Not sure what your problem with me is. Last week, I agreed with 99% of what you said, but you kept going on and on and on about this “OU quality” thing. Let go, man. Life’s too short.
To take this in a different direction, I’d say the biggest problem with Oklahoma High School football is the dominance by a few schools. When the same 2 schools play in the finals every year, it isn’t good for developing talent across the State or the reputation of the State for developing great football player.
I understand OU recruiting nationally but these guys are making a name for themselves. Wish them well and hope OU has done one heck of a job evaluating these guys. I’m sure I missed some but feel free to add.
2016
DB, Chandler NEO, Bundage Edmond SF, Quillen & Stoner Jenks, Mayberry Tulsa, Parker Bartlesville
OL Webb Hollis, Brown Lexington, Fiailo Lawton, Harris Hertiege Hall, Frederick Broken Arrow, Robertson Harrah,
DL Roberts NEO, Criddle Edison, Jones Southmoore
OLB Terry Tulsa Commit, Lon’Trelle Miller Edison, Baccus NEO
My opinions only, based on years of watching film. I’m no coach, but I’m betting I won’t do a worse job of evaluating than the recruiting services. But IMO:
Chandler would start at OU next year; Roberts would likely make the PT rotation at DE; Stoner = Colvin; Fiailo, Harris, and Frederick would all find time in OU’s OL rotations, if not start, during career; probably the kid from Lexington as well;
The only person I would add is Jace Webb.
I had a hard time telling with him, because the competition was less than stellar looking to me, but he does look country strong, and against the competition we’re seeing, his athleticism and feet look ok.
sure he’s raw but you can’t coach quick feet,burst of the line, & nasty.
I would invite him (hell all the kids you mentioned and possibly a few more) to camp this summer, and see how they do against other “elites”. I’m not against Webb, just not as confident as with some others. I had some of the same competition concerns about Harris.
Andre Harris? He plays 6A and against some pretty stiff teams. They reassigned districts recently but think they played Union and Owasso along with a couple of others last year. Harris is indeed raw. Looks slow off the line and has a tendency to wash his opponent down rather than drive them off the line. Maybe he gets better and stronger, but Daniel Burton who now plays at Iowa state also started as a sophomore at PC North and was much more polished without a long football playing background.
Andre played basketball most of his life.
And I like the Terry kid also. He moves really well, and has the frame to gain weight. OLB/DE.
Another tip of the hat to hambone694 for an excellent tribute video to a great Sooner.
I can remember each of these highlights.
https://youtu.be/fHxZ8i4tuMk
Been a while since we’ve had defenders who laid people out like Lynn. It’s a wonderful thing to witness.
He did certainly redeem himself of his atrocious play against Tech in 2012. Dude knew how to bring his body when he struck.
update added
Those are some really nice lockers…is too late to change the plans to renovate ours?
Their lockers are ridiculous. The picture doesn’t even come close to showing all the bells and whistles. Uncle Phil hooks them up bigtime.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xSlBX32jx0
Crazy!…the meeting room chairs are made of Ferrari leather and the walls in the conference room is made of “pigskin”. The weight-room floor is made of some wood only found in the rain forest. Apparently if the facility burns down, the wood will survive. Ridiculous.
What the *blank* ever.
Win a championship to get respect!
Disgusting posers..
I hate Oregon..
They get it. They want to compete. They know what recruits/families like and built something that is hard not to want to be at.
Something is missing. I mean, it’s nice and all but something isn’t there. I can’t quite put my finger on it.
Oh, snap!!! I got it. I know what it is. I know what’s missing. A National Championships trophy, now that and a green and gold bow would bring it all home, really complete the place.
In all seriousness, welcome to the information age. This is what OU and every traditional power is up against. Your door mats aren’t door mats anymore. This is why you will never see one team dominate anymore. This is why you will never see the UCLA Bruins, the Boston Celtics, the Yankees, the Packers dominate in long stretches again.
It’s become a whole lot tougher to get the player of your choosing. These kids are too enamored with the flavor of the month, what’s shiny. If coaches want to win, you better come up with a scheme that’s not out there yet.
Think about the way the spread offense changed things.
Imagination is the great equalizer. It has to be because if you can’t get the best kids, you dang sure better get the best minds in the game.
If I’m an up-and-coming coach, I would be working overtime trying to come up with something different.
Exactly! Great minds play a huge role. So does coaching up. We have to do something during offseason, but we probably worry too much about the recruiting. Good coaching will win out.
I’m a fan of the A-11 Offense.
http://www.a11offense.com/
It’s insanity, I tell ya.
And brilliant.
About the :45 second mark on the video, “base formation 27-roll out- comeback”, #7 goes into motion; he gets lost in all the traffic. If he would have paused, and continued to the opposite side, the field was wide open. Every defender flowed to the side the ball was thrown.
There are many A11 videos. What I like is every player on the O can be the ball carrier/receiver. Even big Ol’ #52 made a TD run up the middle.
Yeah, try to defend that.
Now, the defense has to catch up, do something innovative.
For instance: rush 11 guys on every play. Get some 6’8″, 6’9″ guys and rush, collapsing the pocket. Have your defensive ends rush the edge and the middle with their hands up to bat down quick passes. It’s a crazy idea and it probably won’t work but what the hell, right?
similar to what K-state runs
Un…real! If I was 17-18 and looking at a school to play DI football, I can’t imagine this setup not putting Oregon at the top of my list.
I am bored.. So, what position does Gabriel Campbell end up playing ? DE, DT, OLB, or OT ?
4-3 DE, IMO
my guess too on strong side.
Like Tapper, Orso.. ?
What about next year as a RS Freshman ?
I’m guessing DT. On signing day, he said he was already up to 275.
I could still see him at DE in our 3-4..
Wherever he plays, he will be spending a considerable amount of time in the opponent’s backfield.
A little birdie told me that the coaches and Draper have colluded against OSUcks. Draper will sign with the Gundies, but on NSD? Boom! Bob and a magical offer appear, Levi plops on his head a Sooners cap, and he teabags that stupid Willie Nelson-looking mascot head.
By the way, this birdie cannot be trusted.
Offseason, let’s enjoy it!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8ype9Nr3e4
Almost fell off the couch when Stoops popped up with the harmonica. LOL!
Best part!
Well. That’s it. It’s the Apocalypse.
For about 2 minutes, I forgot about offseason. Thanks for the diversion! Now back to reality ….
Good find.
Entertaining.
/102 days
I must disagree with one thing however. All we care about is certainly NOT beating the ‘horns!
Not sure why & I’m sure it doesn’t mean anything.. But Parker Boudreaux started following me on Twitter just out of the blue… Is that something he does.. follow random fans?
He likes the cut of your jib. 🙂
I can’t blame him for that… Lol..
did you send him pics
How have we not offered Levi? He’s a solid play from in-state at a position of need. What the heck?!?!